Updated: Got expanded analog cable from Comcast? Not for long!

I have a confession to make. Although I’m a geeky kinda guy, when it comes to television I’m a relative Luddite. I’ve got a big, 32-inch picture-tube TV. It’s analog-cable-ready, and that’s the kind of service I have: Comcast’s expanded analog tier of channels.

If it gives me any more cred, I’ve got a TiVo . . . but then, it’s a Series 2, not the newer, digital-capable Series 3.

But I am not alone. According to USA Today, 43 percent of cable-subscribing Americans are still using analog TV, but not for long. Cable companies are hungry to snatch that bandwidth for use with digital services, and want to end analog service. As you’d expect, Houston’s primary cable provider, Comcast, is in the lead:

Comcast says it will drop its popular analog expanded basic service by year’s end in about 20% of its markets. Other systems will follow through 2010. Analog customers affected by the change will have a choice:

•Those who want to continue watching the channels they currently receive must connect each affected TV to a device that converts digital signals into the analog ones that the set requires.

•Those who’d rather stick with their existing set-up will only be able to get a low-price, bare-bones package consisting largely of local broadcast stations.

This does not make me happy. I like the simplicity of using a cable-ready TV, and I love my TiVo. I’ve seen Comcast’s DVR for use with its digital TV service, and it’s just not as friendly. I’m willing to pay TiVo’s monthly subscription fee — it’s that much better.

The converter being offered may be the way I’ll go. A Series 3 costs about $300 (refurbished models are $200). My other option: Bite the bullet and use Comcast’s DVR and console myself that I’m not paying the extra fee for TiVo service. But given how good it is, that’s little consolation.

There is a glimmer of hope. Comcast is in the process of offering customers the option of using TiVo’s software on its own DVRs. Maybe it will come to Houston in time for this switch! (I’ve got a query in to Comcast asking when the axe will fall in Houston on expanded analog service.)

I certainly understand Comcast’s need to push ahead and offer new, advanced services. And I know that bandwidth is a finite resource. Then again, so is my bank account. New technology often results in having to make tough choices.

If you’re an analog cable subscriber, how do you feel about this? What will you do?

Update: I heard back from local Comcast spokesman Ray Purser about when analog expanded service will go away in Houston.

Comcast’s digital strategy is centered around the fact that today’s technology is digital and with cable’s digital migration, consumers will further benefit when watching television through more HD choices, video-on-demand and interactive features. The vast majority of our Houston customers already enjoy the extra benefits of being digital.

No plans for Houston have been announced and the plan will vary by market. When our plans are finalized we will be communicating extensively to our customers. For 2008, our plan is to continue to expand our HD offerings to more than 1,000 choices, add more On Demand choices and also provide more enhancements to our High Speed Internet service.

So that there is no confusion over the digital broadcast transition, I want to be clear that Comcast customers are already prepared and don’t need to do anything. All Comcast’s customers whose TVs are connected to cable will continue to receive broadcast channels without interruption after the broadcast digital transition. The broadcast digital transition will have no impact on these customers.

In the last paragraph, he’s talking about something different: The termination of analog broadcast, over-the-air TV transmissions by local stations, which is a different issue than dropping analog packages over cable. The former is mandated by the FCC; the latter is not. Cable companies are choosing to drop their analog packages.

I think it sucks too. Our main TV will receive digital cable, but we have three other TVs that are older, and analog only. I bet Comcast gets an earful from a lot of people in my situation: they’ve bought one digital TV, but have “legacy” sets distributed throughout the house. (Who can afford to upgrade every TV all at once?)

I’m not going to pay any more for cable, certainly not $300 for some box to let me watch it. Comcast already gutted my service. I had basic extended (cnns, history, etc) for $15/mo with high speed internet for $45/mo. When TWC left and CC came in, they gutted my channels and now I only get local and a couple of cable stations like Food Network (and raised my bill a buck just to spite me I bet).

I really only have CC for the Internet, and only get the cable because its essentially the same price as without it (highspeed discounted with cable added).

They’re practically begging me to dump them and hook up an antenna and switch to DSL.

If you ask me, the whole cable TV model is obsolete. Soon no one is going to be willing to pay to wait and watch a show when it comes on the air (Tivo helps, but is hardly a substitute for on-demand streaming). The networks will supply their shows directly, over the net, and Comcast cable will rightly be dismantled.

Cable companies know that they are going to become extinct, which is why they are testing out metered broadband net service – so they can start raking in more profit on their net service when their cable service revenue drops off. It hasn’t happened yet, since porting your Internet connection to your TV still isn’t as simple as plugging in a box (yet Netflix has shown us that it is just around the corner), and there are still folks out there willing to pay out the nose for TV (99% of which they won’t watch) but…soon.

I understand that digital will probably be better for technical reasons.

However, in my opinion, Comcast is still batting 0 out of 100 as far as getting things right. The first change that I noticed when Comcast took over in Houston was the loss of the program guide channel (operated by TV Guide).

As you pointed, our choices are not great — Comcast throttled Internet users and lied about it; AT&T turned our records over to the government. I’m going to look into satellite providers.

I live in a planned community serviced by Entouch (www.entouch.net), and they dropped analog service – other than over-the-air stations – in February of this year.

Back in November of last year, TiVo offered me an upgrade from my Series 1 (!) to a TiVo HD and let me transfer my lifetime service to the new box for $199. I love the new box, and with the cable card is uses, I can record two shows at once.

Without my TiVo, I really don’t want broadcast TV. I’ll just buy the shows on iTunes or get them on NetFlix.

So will they continue to charge receiver rental fees (as if I don’t already know the answer)? One big advantage Cable has over Satellite is the ability to hook up any number of TVs to any of the outlets in my house to watch analog channels – without extra fees.

Why don’t you just connect your Series 2 TiVo to a Comcast digital cable box? I did that for years with Cox. Works fine. You plug the coax into the cable box, plug S-Video cable from the cable box to your Tivo, and connect an IR emitter (supplied by TiVo) between your set top box and the TiVo to handle channel changing.

The “girls” in our home have been lobbying hard to upgrade from expanded cable service we currently have to digital cable. I’ve been successfully resisting on the grounds that we don’t bother watching more than 1/2 of all the channels available to us on that lineup. Didn’t seem like a good value to get lots more with digital and have them just go to waste.

I even took the time to program them out of the TV so we can skip them with the remote.

We have a very nice wide-screen TV that is “HD Ready” (no HD tuner, just HD inputs) but it is so nice even with the analog signals it looks better than what we had before.

We have just two tellies in the house and if this goes through I guess I will be forced to go the digital TV path and get converter boxes for both of them. Still not sold on the DVR concept though it is cool.

I love our Comcast broadband (for now..not sure about how the caps might impact us down the road) and don’t like the idea of splitting services between Comcast for broadband and a dish-based solution for tellie-media…all those who I’ve seen seem poor in stormy weather.

I guess if were dragged kicking-n-screaming into digital signals by Comcast (groan again) I might then at least get the benefit of some HDTV channels finally….not 100% how that will work between the converter/packages/and our HDTV ready tellie.

I’m not thrilled with that news myself.. honestly at this point, I’ve considered switching to direct TV.

Long delays in getting service calls, having to schedule service calls at home for obvious line issue. I’m inclined to believe (at least houston) if they invested more in upgrading their infrastructure they could offer more/better service rather than ‘removing’ options.

As always, Mr. Silverman, the answer is for you to get with the times. You are always behind the times when it comes to the techno world. I cannot believe the Chron still has you as their Tech Geek. It drive me crazy but I do respect you and your opinions. So here is my take…

Get ATT Uverse if available in your area.. it is AMAZING and cheap. I get 10MBit-Down/1.5MBit-Up internet and their U-200 channel package with HD. I also got 3 HD receivers and one is a DVR. My total monthly price: $74.00. Price after my 6 month “special” is up you may ask? $94.00. At which time the REP even told me.. “Call back in and we will knock off more to get it back to $70 something”.

They are really trying to earn our business and I was more then estatic to take all 3 boxes and my cable modem and throw them on the comcast desk last week. WHAT A THRILL it was to tell them where to stick it.

I have been considering dropping Comcrap anyway. This will probably push me over the edge. I will also drop their internet hookup and just go back to dial up, which I never had any trouble with anyway. If it wasn’t for my wife watching daytime soaps, I could live without tv. I don’t own Tivo and never will.

There isn’t much you can’t get on Netflix or watch on internet these days. I have Dishnetwork and will probably drop it once ATT gets Uverse in my area the the bundle saves me $50.00 a month at a minimum. My internet at earthlink is 19.95 so I would at least hope that would be replaced by Uverse.

You can pick up a TiVo HD for around $250 from Amazon. And lifetime service is $399 for new TiVo subcribers, $299 for existing TiVo subscribers. Comcast gives you the first cablecard for free, and the TiVo HD only needs one multi-stream card to have dual tuner capability.

So yes, TiVo has an upfront expense, but once you have TiVo, no other DVR will meet your expectations. Plus, with the one multi-stream card, you won’t be paying Comcast for anything other than the programming package.

Also people should consider using an OTA antenna and start getting crystal clear local channels in HD FOR FREE. An OTA antenna and downloading ala carte content from Amazon Unbox is becoming more and more of an alternative to cable. Live sports on ESPN is all that really keeps me tied to cable.

One thing Comcast is doing that is annoying, and I have FCC complaints on file, is that they are applying copy once flags on most of their channels in the digital packages. Normal, commercial laden programming, not just premiums like HBO, SHO, PPV (which I can understand). These flags on channels like TNTHD, BBCS, SPEED, NICKTOONS,etc. have the effect of basically breaking multi-room viewing and TiVoToGo features on TiVo DVRs. It’s totally without merit. I can’t record a show on one TiVo, and watch it from another TiVo. That’s multi-room viewing and Comcast is taking that feature away.

I must intervene Dwight to save you from your Cable TV addiction – it is not healthy! Nine letters will save you from this disease…S-A-T-E-L-L-I-T-E. We excised the cable demons from our home 11 years ago and never looked back. We now have 3 DVR’s that feed 6 TV’s digital quality pictures converted to ANALOG channels at the same price most digital cable addicts pay for one box. I pray for your recovery from ‘the wire’.

Cable sucks. I’ve had satellite for years and have been mostly happy with it. The picture is far better (it’s a true digital signal) and they tend not to jack up their rates nearly as often as Time Warner and now Comcast tends to. I also get the NFL network, which has been a pretty sore subject with cable users over the past year or so. Yeah, I hear it all the time about rain fades but for that to happen, it would have to be a pretty torrential downpour. I remember having outages far more often when I had cable than I do with satellite.

For me, going back to cable is equivalent to switching from high speed internet to dial up.

I am in the middle of moving, and will stop using cable completely. Their prices have outstripped their value, so I will switch to a lower-cost alternative. Just think how many movies I can rent or buy instead of paying the ridiculous rates charged for a pretty mediocre service from Comcast. Goodbye Comcast!!

This is exactly something I’ve complained about on my site previously and something had alarmed in a conversation with a Comcast Rep a few months back.

According to Comcast Customer Care Specialist Tonya back on January 9, “any tv that is connected to a digital converter box will still be able to display our service and any tv that already has a built in digital tuner will continue to work without a converter.” So, to add insult to injury, cable providers are now going to take away all below-100 channels (except local broadcasts). Nice.

Like many people, we have been looking for ways to save money, so we dropped Comcast’s digital service (especially after the price hike in October) and went with their Standard Cable service. If this proves true, all of that was for nothing.

I reviewed our options for Satelitte providers, but with all the set-top boxes required, it wouldn’t be any cheaper than Comcast’s Digital service and is definitely NOT cheaper than Comcast’s Standard Cable service.

Sadly, not everyone has the option of going for AT&T’s U-Verse or Verizon’s FIOS, such as myself.

This is why a new Internet-based Set Top Box needs to be created that allows you to watch the programming posted on sites like Hulu, obviously after inking some deals with those sites. More importantly, it needs to be easy so anyone can use it and affordable (such as Netflix’s $99 STB). Anybody want to invest some money into making that happen?

I have a Tivo Series2 that “controls” the bare bones digital settop box. You use the Tivo IR adapter and attach it to the top of the settop box. You go through a couple of setup screens to let the Tivo software know which IR command sequence to use.

I have Comcast TV and AT&T DSL. I almost made the switch to the new U-Verse service until I read the fine print about only being able to record OR watch one HD channel. They make a lot of noise about recording four regular channels, but that won’t get it done for me. The Comcast box will record two HD channels (or record one and allow you to watch one) at the same time.

They do suffer from the volume issue (like AT&T)- most of the HD channels require turning the volume up to hear.

I’ve never used TiVo or D-TV, so I can’t really compare the software, but the Comcast box works just fine for me.

After the fiasco from Hurricane Rita and we lost everything (Cable, phone, and internet) Because they didn’t have there generators going, I dumped them and now I have Direct TV and ATT handles my phone and internet. (the cost is the same as it was before but I’m not depended on just one provider.

I dropped digital cable because of the cost. I now have the expanded analog service. It too has gone up in cost since Comcast came along. I think cable TV costs too much!! If it was commercial free like it was originally advertised to be in the beginning, (because we subscribed to the service) then I might feel better. But now, they show commercials right over the shows I’m watching. Advertising other shows they want me to watch that will have advertising on them etc. etc. etc. This I’m afraid will break the camels back for me. If they discontinue analog and offer a more expensive cable service as the only alternative, I will find a new service. Sorry Comcast, you’re not the only game in town!

I’m on satellite (have been for many years now, I truly hate all the cable companies). I’m on Dish Network, which I like. Their sat receive has a DVR built in, and while no Tivo, it works great for me. The only downside I’ve had with sat is loss of signal during bad rainstorms. That said, I can at least predict now when I’ll lose the signal, as opposed to my crappy cable days when it would go out with no warning. And more often.

We do have a 42 inch JVC High Def LCD TV. The picture is really great when the source if full 1080p HD. However, many of Comcast HD programs are lower 720p resolution which isn’t nearly as good.

I’m proud to say I’ve never watched Lost. I did catch Dancing with the Stars once or twice. Never have gotten around to watching Cheers (is it still on?). Have never tuned in to Desperate Housewives or Sex in the City. Never saw the Soprano’s either (they might not be on any longer or so I hear). Late night ended for me when Johnny Carson retired. I’ve never been able to stomach either of his two successors. The girls in our house watch Law & Order all the time (I can’t stand the guy who does the stockbroker commercials). For the most part, I agree with the ‘vast wasteland’ characterization of television. It’s never been very good since Seargent Bilko retired.

My TV watching consists of O’Reilly and Hannity (my two favorite programs), NBA games, NFL games, a few MLB games, and the Tour de France every July (great event and great TV that keeps me riveted to the tube).

like most of the posters here I hate Comcast and am considering alternatives.

I’ve been a relatively happy Comcast user so far. But I’ve got 6 TVs in the house, and only 2 hooked up to a cable box. If this means that I’ll have to buy (or rent) set top boxes to use my other 4 TVs, then switching to another service like DirectTV is looking more like a viable, and cost-effective, option.

when you talk to your Comcast connection, please ask them why they started encrypting their non-premium HD channels like ESPN-HD and FSN-HD if their non-HD counterparts are part of the expanded basic package. Time Warner did not do that and even though they didn’t officially support QAM, left those channels unencrypted so people could watch the HD channels without needing a cable decoder box.

Like many other people, part of the reason that I have cable is so that I wouldn’t have that big ugly box under my TV. My TV already has a built in QAM/ATSC tuner so technically, there is absolutely no reason to have a box. I was more than happy to put up with channel numbers like 114-7 for ESPN2 HD if it meant not having to have a seperate box.

Again, I’m not asking for freebies…ESPN-HD still shows exactly the same thing that the ESPN channel I’m paying for shows. To me this sounds like they want to make the extra $10 on renting a DVR box which I don’t need or want. If I wanted a box, I would go with satellite or U-Verse, so they’re really shooting themselves in the foot.

They clearily have an advantage in the market of people who don’t want boxes if they leave HD channels unencrypted since satellite and U-verse can’t do that. Most TV’s sold today have a QAM tuner.

Yeah, that’ll work for the single tuner versions of the TiVo, but dual-tuner versions are going to be obsolete. The TiVo can’t IR blast two different cable boxes which is what you’d need in order to use both tuners.

So, that’s the boat I’m in. I have one single tuner TiVo and one dual-tuner TiVo and the DT will be basically a single-tuner because the second tuner won’t be able to be used ESPECIALLY after they take the analog channels away.

(sigh) I guess I’m gonna have to find someone to buy them on eBay and upgrade to TiVo HDs.

As for Comcast’s boxes with TiVo software, I understand they’re better than the current offering for their DVRs, but it’s still not a full TiVo experience.

It’s unclear from the Comcast statement what they mean by “a device that converts digital signals into the analog ones.” Obviously one of their standard set top and DVR boxes will do this (which customers must rent for an additional fee), but are they talking about something simpler, and perhaps free? Not a cable box per se, just a converter that would allow you to use the analog tuner in your TV. Would one of the government subsidized converter boxes perform this function? I know they’re designed for over-the-air, but why wouldn’t they work with cable?

I use rabbit ears to watch tv now. They are all bent and have a lot of aluminum foil on them. Not really sure that helps. I am on disability. My question is: I have two TV’s. One in the living room and one in my bedroom. Even with the discount coupons, it’s going to cost me $80-$85 for the converter boxes and 2 new antennas. $20 for each box and $20-$25 for each antenna. So what am I suppose to do, go without food for a month so that I can watch just basic TV? Since I live on a very limited budget, how am I suppose to pay for something that the government is making it mandatory to me? Every penny is budgeted for actual living expenses every month. I can’t afford the extra $30 a month for cable. That’s a water bill to me. So am I supppose to give up watching TV? I’m in a no win situation here. There should be some hardship cases available. Do you agree or disagree?

Mobea, not to sound harsh, but the over the air converstion has been in the works for almost 10 years now so it’s not as if it’s a sudden change. If you go to Walmart, you can get converters for $50 – the $40 coupon and get two set boxes for $20. If you live in town, those old rabbit ears will work just fine on picking up the channels. If you’re in the suburbs, you may need a better antenna, but pretty much every channel except for channel 8 comes in without too much fuss.

Trust me, you’ll like digital TV. Your reception is going to be MUCH better, even on an old TV. You’ll get programming information that you never got before, you get extra sub-channels with weather info, and if you ever do get an HDTV (they really don’t cost that much more than Tube TV’s cost at the same size 10 years ago), you’ll have great free HD programs.

Grrr. I’m not happy to hear this. I run my own MythTV box with an HD Homerun. With these combined I get a PVR I believe is better than Tivo and can record up to 4 streams at once (2HD & 2 analog). I pay for the expanded analog cable from Comcast and enjoy the free unencrypted digital channels that come down the wire too. There isn’t very many of them, but it was still annoying when they moved to their switched video service recently and all the digital channels jumped around.

If they drop the analog service then I’ll have to buy one of their DVRs (surprise surprise!) unless a suitable cablecard solution is found. With Comcasts move to switched video this breaks most cable cards, so even if I had a TV / computer that took cable cards I couldn’t watch Comcasts digital TV. Comcast isn’t going to be happy until everyone is subscribing to their all digital content and only accessing it using Comcast set-top-boxes. Switched digital video and eliminating the analog streams are their methods of getting there.

The AT&T Uverse offering is a poor substitute for me with only one HD channel at a time and you’re definitely required to use their set-top-box.

Well this is going to be a little frustrating knowing my current setup’s days are numbered. Keep us informed if Comcast drops any more info (useful this time) about the timing for the Houston market.

While it may not be official on AT&T’s website yet, you should be able to get two HD streams over U-Verse already and supposedly a thrid before the year is out. Don’t hold your breath on that 3rd stream, though.

@datacowboy: I’m not sure how flags will effect it, but the ability to watch recorded media from any STB should also be available before the year is out on AT&T. Here’s to hoping it works as well as we want.

when you talk to your Comcast connection, please ask them why they started encrypting their non-premium HD channels like ESPN-HD and FSN-HD if their non-HD counterparts are part of the expanded basic package. Time Warner did not do that and even though they didn’t officially support QAM, left those channels unencrypted so people could watch the HD channels without needing a cable decoder box.

Like many other people, part of the reason that I have cable is so that I wouldn’t have that big ugly box under my TV. My TV already has a built in QAM/ATSC tuner so technically, there is absolutely no reason to have a box. I was more than happy to put up with channel numbers like 114-7 for ESPN2 HD if it meant not having to have a seperate box.

Again, I’m not asking for freebies…ESPN-HD still shows exactly the same thing that the ESPN channel I’m paying for shows. To me this sounds like they want to make the extra $10 on renting a DVR box which I don’t need or want. If I wanted a box, I would go with satellite or U-Verse, so they’re really shooting themselves in the foot.

They clearily have an advantage in the market of people who don’t want boxes if they leave HD channels unencrypted since satellite and U-verse can’t do that. Most TV’s sold today have a QAM tuner.”

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DITTO: RIGHT ON THE NOSE.. I have been so aggravated at comcast that I returned my HD box telling them to shove it.

So what is there response, remove more channels from me that I am paying for. I also have the QAM tuner and now channels are being scrambled. Comcast people should be tarred and feathered.

My most recent back and forth with Comcast:

I am writing to express my continued dissatisfaction with comcast and your refusal to acknowledge the existence of my QAM tuner. On more than one occasion I have contacted customer service to get the broadcast channels for my QAM tuner. Your customer service people don”t know anything about these tuners. Today once again I called and asked specifically for the channel lineup for a QAM tuner and was told to go

to TV planner on line and it would be there,of course is not.

We have the digital Preferred package. And you at this time are not delivering to me the channels That I am paying for. In fact over the last few weeks you have been scrambling channels that I pay for.Please unscramble the channels that I am paying for and send me a channel lineup for the QAM tuners.

Thank you,

COMCAST RESPONSE :

We are sorry to hear of the difficulties you have been experiencing. We can confirm that you may be able to use a QAM tuner to view some channels. A box or cable card would be required to view any channels outside of the basic line up, however. We apologize for any inconvenience. We cannot guarantee to be able to view all channels with out a set top box or cable card to decode QAM channels. You are welcome to view the Preferred channels through the standard box on your account,if you wish. We apologize again for any inconvenience.

Thank you for choosing Comcast.

Sincerely,

Michael

Comcast Customer Care Specialist

My REPLY:

Hello,

Thanks for your reply. The “standard” box is in use on an SDTV , the television without the set top box is an HDTV with (3) built in tuners including the QAM.A standard box does not allow me to view HDTV through it, while the QAM allows me to view the digital channels and the NTSC tuner allows me to view local and other HD signals, except for the fact that comcast continues to take digital channels from me. In the last weeks many channels that I pay for and previously received with my QAM tuner have been taken from me and scrambled. The only reason I see that comcast can not guarantee I will be able to view all channels without a set top box is because comcast has decided that they do not want me to and therefore scrambles the channels that I pay for and would rather I be required to incur an additional expense in the monthly rental of a digital converter box or HD box from Comcast when my television is already equipped with appropriate tuners.

Also I believe that Comcast could in fact supply to me a regular loyal paying customer, the channel lineup for the signals broadcast on channels 78.xxx through 114.xxx.

Since comcast has not been able to rectify the problem or seems to have no suitable answer I will offer a few.

( 1) Comcast will issue credit to my account equal to 1 year rental of an HD converter box after which time I will go rent a converter box.

( 2) Comcast will issue credit for the services I have not received for the past three months.

( 3 ) Comcast will restore proper service by unscrambling the channels I pay for and delivering these signals to my home.

Thank You,

Comcast response:

Thank you for your message. We are only able to guarantee HD channels and any additional programming outside of the basic lineup with the use of additional equipment. The best suggestion would to look into a cable card if your television supports this technology. Outside of this option, a set top box would be required. We apologize again for any inconvenience.

Thank you for choosing Comcast.

Sincerely,

Michael

Comcast Customer Care Specialist

So I pay and get the old high hard one. If it were not for my aged mother who watches her tv 12 hours a day Comcast Cable would be gone forever.